Industrial Design Degree in Akron, OH — Salary & ROI 2026
Industrial Design degree analysis for Akron, OH. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$86K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
5.1 yrs
in Akron
Cost of Living
105
index (100 = avg)
Industrial Design in Akron, OH Overview
While Akron has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Industrial Design students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $8,745/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Industrial Design enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in CAD/3D Modeling and Prototyping. The adjusted starting salary in Akron is approximately $52,500, growing to $86,100 by mid-career.
Category
Arts & Design
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$11,330/yr
Private Tuition
$45,325/yr
Room & Board
$8,745/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,336/yr
Unemployment
3.3%
Graduation Rate
72%
Industrial Design Salary in Akron (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Akron's cost of living index of 105 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Industrial Design salary: $50,000 starting, $82,000 mid-career, $100,000 senior level.Akron adjustment factor: 1.05x based on the local cost of living index.
Industrial Design ROI Calculator for Akron
Estimate your return on investment for a Industrial Design degree using local Akron tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,330 | Private avg: $45,325
Akron avg aid: $8,336/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$80,300
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$15,750
vs HS diploma in Akron
ROI Payback Period
5.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Akron
$465,700
Lifetime earnings premium ($546,000) minus total education cost ($80,300)
Student Loan Payoff for Industrial Design in Akron
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Akron for Industrial Design
University of Akron
public
$11,330/yr
$45,320 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Stark State College
$4,344/yr
Top Employers for Industrial Design in Akron
Akron offers opportunities in Design agencies, Studios, Tech companies for Industrial Design graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Akron Hiring Sectors for Arts & Design
Design agencies
Studios
Tech companies
Advertising firms
Media companies
Common Industrial Design Job Titles
Industrial Design in Nearby Ohio Cities
Columbus, OH
$52K starting · COL 103
31 colleges
Cleveland, OH
$48K starting · COL 96
20 colleges
Cincinnati, OH
$51K starting · COL 102
28 colleges
Toledo, OH
$54K starting · COL 108
16 colleges
Dayton, OH
$52K starting · COL 104
9 colleges
Parma, OH
$45K starting · COL 90
4 colleges
Canton, OH
$42K starting · COL 84
4 colleges
Lorain, OH
$43K starting · COL 85.2
3 colleges
Other Arts & Design Majors in Akron
UX Design
$53K starting · 3.2 yr ROI
Architecture
$61K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Animation & Game Design
$53K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Graphic Design
$50K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Interior Design
$53K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Fashion Design
$53K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Film & Media Studies
$53K starting · 7.5 yr ROI
Fine Arts
$53K starting · 9 yr ROI
Industrial Design Degree in Akron — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Industrial Design ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Akron.